M-1 Global Off to a Bad Start With “Breakthrough” Event

Oops, apparently to host an MMA event in the U.S. you’re required to notify that specific state’s athletic commission ahead of time. Maybe M-1 Global can just tell the CSAC the minor formality of requesting their permission simply fell between the cracks?

SI.com’s Josh Gross reported on yesterday’s edition of his podcast “Gross Point Blank” that M-1 Global’s “Breakthrough” event may be teetering on falling through. M-1 was planning on hosting their debut show in the States inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, unbeknownst to California’s commission.

“According to Bill Douglas of the [CSAC], who I talked to on Tuesday, he said that they hadn’t heard a thing regarding the show,” Gross stated on his podcast. “The original party involved informed them that the event was not happening, and they could take it off the schedule.

“It was supposed to be done in conjunction with an MMA expo at the L.A. Convention Center. There had been some meetings and some deadlines set, but those deadlines passed.”

M-1 announced last month that “Breakthrough” would be taking place in conjunction with the International Mixed Martial Arts Expo, an MMA trade show similar to the UFC’s Fan Expo at UFC 100.

Good in theory, poor in execution.

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal was scheduled to take on MMA veteran Don Frye in the night’s main event, with Nick Thompson and Karl Amoussouon meeting on the August 28th event as well.

Gross reports that M-1 plans on keeping the date for their show, and have already started the process of locating a new venue. Word is they have reached out to officials in Nebraska to see if the Cornhusker State would be interested in hosting their card, and of course Las Vegas, Nevada is always an option.